The City of Kelowna received an award for “chipping in” on fire mitigation at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Vancouver.
On Wednesday, the city was presented with the 2023 Climate and Energy Action award in the Community Planning Development category.
The award recognizes the contribution Kelowna has made to building resilience to wildfires through its FireSmart program, especially through its Community Chipping Program.
The city has been offering residents free curbside removal and chipping of flammable plants and shrubs for the past two years to reduce risk from wildfire.
A release says hundreds of metric tonnes of flammable cedar, juniper, mugo pine and other coniferous debris were removed from over 250 private properties by City of Kelowna crews and contractors.
“It is very gratifying to receive this Provincial recognition for the work we do in Kelowna on fire mitigation through the chipping program,” said mayor Tom Dyas.
“Our Council continues to look at ways we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change, which we have experienced at an unprecedented level this summer in British Columbia.”
Judges applauded the city’s collaboration on the program, the quality of management with the community and the fact the program could be replicated in other communities.
Mayor Dyas thanked City of Kelowna Staff and community members for their efforts in making Kelowna a more resilient community to urban interface wildfires.
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